Introduction to Parameters and Arguments
In Structured Programming, parameters and arguments are key concepts that enable interaction between functions and procedures. Parameters are variables defined in the header of a function or procedure, which act as containers for the values passed to the function. Arguments are the actual values supplied to those parameters when the function or procedure is called. Proper use of parameters and arguments facilitates code reuse and improves flexibility, allowing the same function to be executed with different inputs.
Parameters in Functions
Parameters are variables used to pass information to functions and procedures. In Python, parameters are specified in parentheses when defining a function. Here's an example:
# Example of a function with parameters in Python
def add(a, b):
return a + b
result = add(5, 3)
print("Result of the addition:", result)
In this example, the sum function accepts two parameters a and b, and returns their sum. The function is then called with arguments 5 and 3, and the result is printed.
Arguments in Function Calls
Arguments are actual values passed to a function's parameters when the function is called. Arguments can be constants, variables, expressions, or even other functions. Here's an example:
# Example of a function with arguments in Python
def greet(name, message="Hello"):
print(message + ",", name)
greet("Ana")
greet("Carlos", "Hi!")
In this example, the greet function has an optional message parameter with the default value "Hello." The function is called twice, once with just the name and once with a custom message.
Parameters with Default Values
In Python, it is possible to define parameters with default values. This allows a function to be more flexible by providing a predefined value when no argument is specified. Here is an example:
# Function with default parameters
def greet(name, message="Hello"):
print(message + ",", name)
greet("Ana")
greet("Carlos", "Hi!")
In this example, the greet function has an optional message parameter with the default value "Hello." The function is called twice, once with just the name and once with a custom message.
Conclusion
Understanding how parameters and arguments work in Structured Programming is essential for developing efficient and modular programs. Practice with different types of parameters and experiment with various function calls to improve your programming skills. The flexibility provided by parameters and arguments will allow you to write clearer, more reusable, and easier-to-maintain code.